Up to 420 full-time jobs could be created with plans for a new multi-million pound food factory in County Armagh, Armagh I can reveal.
Family-owned Avondale Foods Ltd has signalled its intention to build a huge new outlet close to Lurgan town centre.
Formal proposals have now been drawn up and lodged with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
In addition to the full-time positions which such a factory would bring, a further 100 are expected to be created through the construction of this major new development.
Armagh I first revealed plans for a factory were on the table in March of last year, when a pre-application process was confirmed.
Now formal plans have been made, it can be confirmed that Avondale Foods NI – who last year celebrated 60 years in business – hopes to construct a new 53,000 sq ft facility at the Halfpenny Valley Industrial Estate.
The new factory, if approved, will manufacture a range of breakfast goods for its many existing customers, such as Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and Waitrose.
Supporting information details what is intended: “The proposals intend to construct a new two-storey factory premises which will involve the packaging, chilling and distribution of food stuffs.
“Internally, the factory building will comprise of office space, staff welfare facilities, product and intake storage, food processing halls and internal plant equipment.
“Externally, the site will also comprise of a number of car parking areas and HGV hardstanding areas, switchrooms and ammonia plant, DAF building, and an external refrigeration plant room.”
According to the company, the new factory is a “a key part of the company’s ambitious growth plans to further develop the company and contribute to the local economy”.
The development will consist of one main building and a number of smaller buildings required for the “effective operations of the factory”, on an area which is zoned as industrial land.
The ground floor will house an intake hall and raw goods storage, changing rooms and lockers, low-care production halls, high-care production halls, packaging and despatch and storage for chilled and ambient products.
The first floor will comprise administration and offices, canteen, services area and storage for flat pack packaging.
An economic statement confirms: “The proposed development by Avondale Foods is expected to generate up to 420 full-time jobs, with a mix of direct employment through Avondale Foods and agency employment, delivering a significant and sustained boost to local employment and supporting long-term economic growth in the area.
“There will be a mix of various job types created, ranging from management and office staff, production line operatives, hygiene operatives and warehouse/forklift operatives.”
Staff – from managerial to production to cleaners – would be employed working on a shifts basis across seven days a week.
The statement adds: “During the construction phase it is anticipated approximately 100 jobs will be created during the initial 18 month construction phase, at which stage Avondale Foods will commence production at the new site.
“The development will bring increased employment to the Lurgan, Craigavon and Portadown area, bring much needed revenue to the local council via rates and to the Government via corporation tax.
“Not only will Avondale Foods directly increase and sustain the job market, it will also provide additional work for local suppliers and businesses, in particular local haulage companies.”
Noise, air quality and lighting reports have been completed and supporting documentation indicates that “the proposed development will not harm the amenity of nearby residents”.
There would be “footpath connectivity from the access point, through the site, with pedestrian crossing points to both
the staff and visitor accesses to the building”.
The factory boasts a total of 194 car – and eight lorry – parking spaces, while 20 cycle stands have been provided “to encourage cycling to and from the site”.
The factory will be closed in by a 2.4 metre high metal fence, and “existing vegetation on the western boundary of the site shall be retained”. Planting of further trees and bushes is planned to “provide screening for the development and facilitate its integration into the surrounding landscape”.
Avondale Foods Ltd was founded in 1965 by brothers Harry and Derek Geddis, who began by growing vegetables at their family farm for distribution to local markets and retail outlets.
As the business expanded, produce was ‘outsourced to local growers’, while the company turned its attentions to product development.
Avondale Foods, in the early 1980s, became the first company in Northern Ireland to manufacture coleslaw and quickly grew to become one of the leading suppliers of coleslaw across the whole of the UK and Ireland.
The company very much remains a family business, with founding members still involved in its day-to-day operations.
Meanwhile, a second generation have also adopted key roles in the senior management team.
Avondale Foods, described as a leading food processing company of fresh and chilled products, currently has a staff of more than 400. This fluctuates, according to production demands, at its existing base at Chestnut Farm, on Dukestown Lane, Lurgan.
While it specialises in noodles, porridge, sauces, side salads and many more popular products, with the continued success and expansion of the company, Avondale Foods Ltd now aims to expand to this new site, where it will focus on the production of a range of breakfast goods.
As the economic statement concludes: “Avondale Foods Ltd is committed to further expanding the company within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, more locally within the Craigavon area, bringing much needed investment and job opportunities to the Borough.”
The application will now be advertised shortly.
